Quick-acting control mechanism



Feb. 21, 1928. 1,659,947

E. L. FONSECA QUICK ACTING com'nor. mscrmmsm Filed June 19 1926 AT ORNE S Pa e... F b. 21, 928. Y 1,659,947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD L. FONSECA, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE WILCOLATOR COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

QUICK-ACTING CONTROL MECHANISM.

Application filed June 19, 1926. Serial No. 117,181.

This invention relates to control mechamaybe set by a handle to open the valve. nisms and is concerned more particularly The shaft is held in this position by a major with a control device which is capable of latch, and a considerable force is required exerting a powerful force so that it may to release this latch so that the heavy spring operate a valve, damper, or the like with a can rotate the shaft to close the valve. This quick action, but which is capable of being force is exerted by a spring-actuated hambrought into action by a weak force, so that mer, ordinarily held out of action by a it may be made highly sensitive. minor latch device, which requires but little Control devices of this type are of espeforce to release it and is thus capable of l cial utility in connection with heating deoperation by a thermostatic element or a vices in which itisdesired to shut off the clock mechanism. When the heating has supply of fuel quickly when a predetercontinued until a definite temperature has mined temperature is reached, as, for exambeen reached in the oven chamber, or a ple, in the chamber being heated. For that definite period of time has elapsed, the purpose, the device is used in conjunction thermostatic element or the clock mechawith an element which is responsive to temnism operates to release the minor latch. perature and assumes difierent positions as This frees the hammer which at once moves temperature variations occur. Such eleto release the major latch, thus permitting ments, when sufficiently sensitive to permit the heavy spring to close the valve through an exact tem erature control'are ordinaril the workin connections. The valve now of a delicate construction and are incapable remains closed until the device is again set of exerting the force required to close a by the handle, in which action both latches heavy valve, especiall when the movable are rendered elfectiveready for release when part of the valve is iable to stick owing the proper conditions recur.

to accumulations of tar or other impurities For a better understanding of the in'ven- 0 from the fuel. 'Also, such an element is tion, reference may be had to the accomnot ordinarily capable of directly releasing panying drawings, in which there is shown the latch of a valve of the self-closing type one embodiment suitable for the controlof when the valve is weighted by a spring a gas heater. In these drawings,

heavy enough to insure quick and positive Fig.1 is a lay-out of the mechanism with action. the parts shown somewhat diagrammati- In some instances these heating devices are oally,

to be operated for definite periods of time, Fig. 2 is a face view of the latch device in which event, a clock mechanism is emwith the cover plate removed,

' ployed for the purpose of controlling the Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of no supply of fuel, but here again the force Fig. 2,

which this clock mechanism is capable of Fig. 4 is a side view of a temperature-reexerting is not always sufficient to close the sponsive device which may be used with the fuel supply valve, or to release the latch of new controller, .and

40 a self-closing valve. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of certain of The object of the present invention is to the parts shown in Fig. 4. provide a control mechanism of the quick- Referrmgnow to the drawings, the device acting typewhich is so constructed and aris illustrated in the form in which it may ranged that it may be actuated by a delibe used to control the temperature in a gas 45 cate temperature-responsive element or oven provided with burners supplied with 5 the like. In this mechanism, is included a mounted on the shaft 15 of the latch device. 1

clock mechanism and when brought into gas through apipe line 10. In this line is action exerts arelativelyl powerful force caa valve 11 of any standard type, provided pable of performing t e desired function with an operating handle 12. This handle of closing a fuel supply valve, damper, or is connected by a link 13 to an arm 14 latch device having two stages which are A heavy spring 16 encircles the shaft 15 and brought into operation successively with a is secured to the shaft at 17, the other end brief time interval. A shaft weighted by a of the spring being secured to apost 18 powerful spring is arranged for operative extending from the housing 19 through 5 connection to a valve, etc., and this shaft which the shaft extends. The spring 16 exerts a force-which tends to keep the valve 11 closed, and when this spring is released, the valve snaps closed with a rapid action and the spring is of sufficient strength to pre- 5 vent the valve sticking open, due to' the acemulation of tar or other impurities in the The housing 19 which contains the latch mechanism, may be mounted at any conven-' l ient point on the heater or ad acent thereto.

This housing is cup-shaped and provided with a cover plate 20, through which extends the shaft 15. On the end of the shaft which projects through the cover plate is a setting l andle 21 and the housing is provided with a hollow boss 22, in which is threaded a plpe 23 leading to the temperature-responsive device, generally designated 24.

Pivotally mounted at 25 within .the housing, is a dog 26, the tail of which carries a lug 27 through which projects the end ,of a rod 28, which extends through the pipe 23. The rod is connected to the lug 27 in any convenient manner, as, for instance, by means of cotter pins 29 passing through holes in the rod and lying on either side of the lug. The" dog is forced to swing in a counter-clockwise direction on its pivot, as seen in Fig. 2, in any convenient manner, as by means of a light spring-30 secured at one end to. the dog and bearing at the other against the wall of the casing. At its end the dog has a pro-'.

jecting tooth 31 which engages a projection 32 on a hammer 33. The hammer 33 is mounted loosely on a tubular projection 34 extending from one face of a plate 35 fixedly secured to the shaft 15 within the housing,

and a light spring 36 secured at one end to a screw 37 threaded into .the shaft and at the 4o other bearing against a pin 38 projecting from the face of the-hammer 33, tends to force the hammer 33 in a counter-clockwise direction about the-shaft 15 as a center.

The plate 35 is provided with a shoulder 39 in its rim and this shoulder may be engaged with a tooth at the end of a dog 40 pivotally mounted at 41 within the housing. The dog has'a tail 42 provided with an upstanding lug 43 and a light spring 44 connected to the tail' and to a pin 45 in the face of the housing, normally tends to swing the dog so that the tooth will bear against the rim of the plate 35. The in 38 in the hammer 33 has an extension 46 ying beyond the rear face of the hammer and in the athof the shoulder 39. A nut 46 threade on the shaft 15 holds, the hammer 33 in position against theplate 35, which, in turn, bears 05 which the end of therod 28 pro ects, and

within the housing is a swinging arm 48 secured on ashaft49 which extends rearwardly from'th'e housing and-liesiiwithin a tube 50. ,4 To the-rear end of the shaft is secured an: arm 51 provided'lwi'th a pin 52 which enters a slot 53 in an L-shaped bracket 54 mounted on the end of a bi-metallic thermostatic strip 55 theother end of which is secured to a stirrup 56 pivotally mounted on a pin 57 which lies in an aperture in a block 58 projecting from the rear face of the housing 47. Within the housing is a boss 59 in which is'mounted a screw 60 carrying a cup-shaped dial 61 on its outer .end, this dial closing the front end of thehousing 47 andon its rim, as at 62, having graduations indicating degrees. A fixed pointer 63 on the housing cooperates with the dial and provides means for setting the device for any temperature. The adjustment of the dial causes the screw 60 to move in or out of the boss 59 and at its rear end the screw presses against an abutment 64 secured to the stirrup 56. The movement of the screw causes the stirrup to swing about the pin 57 and this in turn adjusts the other-end of the thermostatic strip with reference to the pin 52. By

the proper adjustment of the dial, the thermostatic strip'may be set to produce a swinging movement of the arm 51 at any tempera.- ture within the temperature range of the device, and when the arm 51 is moved by the warping of the thermostat resulting in the movement of the'lend of the thermostat which carries the bracket 54, this arm-causes shaft 49 to rock and the arm 48 bears against the end of the rod 28, and moves it lengthwise. The details of construction of the thermostatic mechanism form no part of the present invention, and are shown in my copending application, Ser. No. 48,501, filed August 6, 1925.. .This device is merely one conven ent form of an adjustable temperature-responsive mechanism whichmay be used with the new latch mechanism.

In the operation of the new controller, the

thermostatic element is set to cause a move-.

ment of the rod 28 at any selected temperature by the adjustment ,of the dial 61. In

the cold .position of the thermostatic strip,

the arm 48 lies in a position which permits the spring 30 to swing the dog 26 on its pivot, at the same time moving the rod 28 to the right,'as shown in F ig. 1. The dog '12) takes a position in which its tooth 31 lies in the path of the tooth 32 on the hammer 33,

the normal position of the hammer when the device is released being such that the two teeth are in opposition but' spaced apartslightly. The'latch mechanism is now set manually by means of the handle 21 which isnioved to turn the shaft 15 counter-clockwise 'Durlng this setting action, the hammer 33 is moved to bring its tooth 32 into engagement with the dog 26, while the plate 35 is moved- Y by the spring until the shoulder 39 thereon rides behind the tooth on the dog 40. This movement of the shaft is against the pressure of the heavy spring 16, and when the handle is released, the shaft is held against being moved due to the engagement of the shoulder 39 with the dog 40. The setting movement of the shaft is transmitted through the linkage to open the valve 11 and fuel flows to the oven burners through the valve. When the temperature for which the device is set to operate is exceeded, the Warping of the thermostatic strip causes movement of the 48, causing it to move nally. 26 from the hammer 33 and the hammer 33 is now swung about the shaft 15 by the action of the light spring 36. A projection 64 near the end of the hammer now strikes the projection 43 on the dog with a sharp blow, swinging the dog on its pivot 41 to. an extent sufficient to release the plate 35. The shaft 15 is now free to be moved by the heavy spring 16 and as the shaft rothe rod 28 longituditates, it closes the valve 11 by means of the linkage 12, 13, 14. As the shaft is rotated in a clockwise direction by the spring 16, it carries with it the plate 35 and the shoulder 39 on the plate bears against the projection 46 on the rear face of the hammer 33, moving the dog until its end 64 strikes a stop pin 65 projecting from the rear wall of the housing. In this position of the hammer 33,

- its tooth 32 lies slightly beyond the tooth 31 on the end of the dog 26, and when the handle 21 is again moved to set the device, the

- initial movement of the shaft and the plate major latch device.

35, permits the hammer 33 to be moved slightly away from the stop pin 65 by its spring 36, this movement continuing until the tooth 31 on dog 26 is engaged with the tooth 32 on the hammer, after which the hammer remains stationary. The further movement of the shaft by the handle moves the plate 35 to a position in which its shoulder 39 rides past the tooth on the dog 40. The setting movement of the handle is limited by the engagement of a shoulder 67 on the plate 35 contacting with a stop pin 66 projecting from the rear wall of the housing. It will be noted from the foregoing that the manual setting of the device renders both latch devices effective.

The latch mechanism includes the four springs 30, 36, 44, and 16, and the first three springs are relatively is a heavy spring. The spring 30 is the lightest of the group, so that but little resistance is offered to the movement of the rod 28 effected by the arm 48. The dog 26 and hammer 33 form the minor latch device, while the dog 40 and' the plate 35 form the It will be observed that the latch mechanism operates in two stages,

shaft 49which swings arm This movement unlatches the dog light, while the latter the two latch devices being released-succes- I sively with a brief time interval. The release of hammer 33 by' the movement of dog 26 resulting from a longitudinal movement of the rod 28, permits hammer 33 to be swung about the shaft by means of the light spring 36, and when the hammer has moved through an arc of approximately 90, it. strikes the tail of dog 40, and causes this dog to'release the plate 35 secured rigidly to the shaft. By this relay construction, it is possible to provide a mechanism which is sensitive in'operation, since it may be brought into action by light forces exerted by a temperature-responsive element. At the same time, the valve-closing mechanism may be sufiiciently powerful to close the valve with a rapid action when released.

It will be noted that with the new controller the thermostat and the latch mechanism may be constructed as a rigid assembly unit, the theri'nostat being carried in a housing which is rigidly mounted on the end of the pipe leading to the housing for the latch mechanism, through which pipe extends the operating rod. By rigidly mounting the thermostat with reference to the latch device, permanence of calibration is secured. The device may be adjusted at the factory for the conditions under which it is to be used. and may then be mounted at any convenient point on the heater, or near the heat-- or. In thus mounting the device, the calibration of the adjusting means for the thermostatic element is not changed. It will further be observed that the shaft 15 is connected by linkage to the fuel supply valve or to a damper or some other control element, and by such a flexible connection it is possible merely by changing the length of the links or by adding additional links, to connect the mechanism to operate the control element at any convenient point. Also, the device may be used to operate two control elements, as, for example, both a valve and a damper. It is not necessary that the operating spring 16 should be mounted on the shaft 15 and in some instances it may be desirable to connect this spring to the arm 14 or to some member of the linkage connection with the other end of the spring secured to any rigid point.

With the new controller it is impossible to lock the valve or control element open, i

once the thermostatic element has tripped the mechanism as the mechanism cannot be reset manually until normal conditions have been restored. This is due to .the fact that so I which the pin 46 bears against the shoulde when the handle 'is'turned to move the shaft 1 on dog 40 and swin K cannot hold the mechanism and cause the -15 counterclockwise, the hammer 33 follows the plate as thefllatter moves and the projection 64.- on the hammer engages .the tail 43 s this dog to a position in which its tooth is' clear of the shoulder 39. This action of the hammer is such that the dog 40 is held inoperative and therefore plate 35 in set position.

When the thermostat is restored to its normal position by t-he temperature falling be low the predetermined point,'the. dog 26 will lie in a position toengage the tooth 32 of the hammer and then when the handle is moved, the dog 40 will ride over the shoulder'39-on the plate 35 and hold the plate and shaft against return movement; The device thus insures that the heater will not be supplied withlfuel when a predetermined temperature hasfbeen exceeded.- As soon as this temperature is reached,'the thermostatic element will release the two stage latch fuel supply-valve to be closed, and the valve cannot beheld open by the device until the temperature in the heating chamberhas fallen below the critical point.

-While I have shown the new control mechanism-arranged to operate a valve, it is evidentjthat it may be used to operate a damper or some other control device of. this character. Similarly, the device may be brought into actionby a clock mechanism, instead of a temperature-responsive device.

-Icla1m:-- 1. control mechanism of. thetype described, the combination of a rotatably ing means out of action, both moved to its second mounted shaft, means tending to hold the shaft in one position, a handle for moving the'shaft to a second position, a latch device operable to hold the shaft in its second position, releasing means for this latch device, a second latch device for holding the releasbeing rendered effective when the shaft is position by the handle,

- and means for releasing the second latch deevice."

.hold the shaft in its the shaft by which the and means for releasing the second latch device.

3. In control mechanism of the type deis released when latch devices.

2. In-control mechanism of the type de' .scribed, the combination of a 'rotatably mounted shaft, a spring tending to hold-the, handle connected to effective to hold the shaft in its hold the shaft inits'second position, a hammer freely mounted'on the shaft, a spring forforcing the hammer in one direction, this hammer being movable by the spring to enga'ge'the latch device and render'it ineflective, a second latch device for normally holding the hammer out of action, both latch devices being rendered ment of the shaft by the handle, and means for releasing the second latch device whereby the hammer is moved by its spring to release the first latch-device.

14. In control mechanism of the type described, the combination of a rotatably mounted shaft, a spring tending to hold the shaft in one position,.a handle connected to the shaft by which the shaft may bemoved to second position, a latch device effective to hold the shaft in its second posltlon, a hammer operable to render the latch device inefi'ectiveto hold the shaft, means for causing the hammer .to perform the said function,'a second latch device'for holding the hammer in inoperative position, temperature-responsive means, and a connection between the temperature-responsive means and the sec-- ond latch device whereby this latch device a predetermined temperature is reached; 1 5

5. In control mechanism of the type deshaft projecting into the housing,

a spring tendm g to move the shaft to one position of rest, a handle connected to the shaft by which the shaft may be moved to a second position, a latch device within the housing effective to hold the shaft effective by the movein its second-posi-.

I00 scribed, the combination of a housing, a-

lei

tion, a spring-actuated-hammer within the housing movable to render the said latch devlce ineffective, a second latch device within the housing for holding the hammer in ineffective housing through a wall thereof for releasing the second latch device whereby the hammer is moved by its spring torelease the first latch device.

6. In control-mechanism of the type described, the combination of a housing.. a shaft projecting into the housing, a spring tending to move the shaftto one position of rest, a, handle connected to the shaft by which the shaft may be moved to a second position, a latch device within the housing second position, a spring-actuated hammer within the housing movable to render the said latch device ineffective, a second latch device within. the housing for holding the hammer in ineffective position,- a temperature-responsive element rigidly mounted with relation to the position, and means entering the housing and having a part movable to different positions in accordance with temperature variations, and a connection between the temperature-rcsponsive element and the second latch device for releasing the latter when a predetermined temperature is reached.

' 7. In control mechanism of the type described, the combination of a housing, a shaft projecting into the housing, a spring tending to move the shaft to one position of rest, a handle connected to the shaft by which the shaft may be moved to a second position, a latch device within the housing effective to hold the shaft in its second position, a spring-actuated hammer within the housing movable to render the said latch device ineffective, a second latch device Within the housing for holding the hammer in ineffective position, a temperature-responsive element, a mounting for the element rigidly connected to the housing, and a connection between the element and the second latch device whereby the said latch device is released by the element when a predetermined temperature is attained. v o

8. In control mechanism of the type described, the combination of a housing, a shaft projecting into the housing, a spring tending to move the shaft to one position 0 rest, a handle connected to the shaft by which the shaft may be moved to a second position, a latch device within the housing effective to hold the shaft in its second position, a spring-actuated hammer within the housing movable to render the said latch device inefiective, a second latch device within the housing for holding the hammer in ineffective position, a temperature-responsive element having a part movable to different positions in' accordance with temperature variations, means for adjusting the action of the said element, and a connection between the movable part of the element and the second latch device whereby the said latch device is released by the action of the element when the latter is exposed to a predetermined temperature.

9. A' control mechanism of the type described, which comprises the combination of an element responsive to temperature and having a part which moves to different positions in accordance with temperature variations, a valve for controlling the supply of fuel to a burner, a shaft operatively connected to the valve, a spring tendinglto h 1)ld e va ve v the shaft in a position in which connected to the shaft is closed, a handle for moving the shaft to a second position in which the valve is open, a latch device for holding the shaft in its second position, a

second latch device operable to release the first, and means connecting the second latch device and the said element thereby the movement of the element due to a selected plate lease of the latch devices successlvely.

10. A control mechanism of the type described, which comprises the combination of an element responsive to temperature and having a part which moves to different positions in accordance with temperature variations, avalve for controlling of fuel to a burner, a shaft operatively connected to the valve, a spring tending to hol the shaft in a position in which the valve connected to the shaft is closed, a handle for moving the shaft to second position in which the valve is open, a plate rigidly secured to the shaft, a latch device engaging the plate and operable to hold the shaft in its second position, a second latch device for releasing the first, the second latch device and the temperatureresponsive element operable by the latter to release the second latch device when a predetermined temperature has been reached.

11. In control mechanism of the type described, the combination of a rotatably mounted shaft, a spring tending to hold the shaft in one position, a plate rigidly secured to the shaft, a handle connected to the shaft by which the shaft may be moved to a sec ond position, a latch device on aging the f plate and operable to hold the s aft 1n its second position, a spring-actuated hammer mounted loosely on the shaft and movable relative to the shaft to engage the latch de-- vice and render it ineffective, a second latch device for holding the hammer in ineffective position, and means for releasing the second latch device whereby the hammer is moved by its spring to release the said latch device.-

12. In control mechanism of the type described, the combination of a rotatably mounted shaft, a spring tending to hold the shaft in one position, a plate rigidly secured to the shaft, a handle connected to the shaft by which the shaft may be moved to a second position, a spring-pressed do engageable with a notch in the plate an effective to hold the shaft in its second position, a

hammer loosely mounted on the shaft and movable by a spring to engage the dog and render it inefiective, a second dog engageable with the hammer ,to hold it out of action, and means acting the second dog to release the hammer,? -whereb the latter is moved by its spring and ren ers theiiirst dog ineflective.

13. In control mechanism of the t e described, the combination of a housm a shaft enterin the housing, a spring ten ing to hold the s aft in one position, a late socuredrigidly to the shaft within the ousing, a handle connected to the shaft by-which the shaft ma be moved to a second osition, a dog with1n,the housin engageab c with the to hold the sha in its second posiand a connection between the supply" I tion, a hammer loosely mounted on the shaft and movable by a spring to a position in which it renders the dog ineffective, a second dog engageable with the hammer to holdthe latter against movement, the hammer being forced into position for engagement with the second dog by the plate when the shaft is in its first osition, and means for rendering the second dog ineffective where by the hammer is moved by its spring to render the first dog ineffective.v

14. In control mechanism of the type described, the combination of a housing, a shaft entering the housing, a spring tending to hold the shaft in one position, a plate secured rigidly to the shaft. within the housing, a handle connected to the shaft by which the shaft may be moved to' a second .position, a dog within the housing engageable with the plate to hold the'shaft n its second position, i on the shaft and movable by a spring to a position in which it renders the dog ineffective, a second dog engageable with the hammer to hold the latter against movement, the hammer bein' forced into osition for engagement wit the second og by the plate when the shaft is in its first position, a

perature-responsive element operable when a predetermined temperature is reached for moving the rod to cause the second dog to release the hammer. a 15. In control mechanism of the type described, the combination of a rotatably mounted shaft, a spring tending to hold the shaft in one position, a handle connected to effective to hold first latch device the shaft by which the shaft may be moved to a second position, a latch device effective to hold the shaft in the second position, an element movable through a path of'tra'vel defined at one end by the latch device, a second latch device for holding the element at the opposite end of its path of travel, means for releasing the second latch device, and means for propelling the element toward the to engage and render inoperative said device when the element is released by ment being propelled bythe said means with great rapldity.

16. In control mechanism of the. type described, the combination of a rotatably mounted shaft, a spring tending to hold the shaft in one position, a handle connected to the shaft by which the shaftmay be moved to a second position, a latch device the shaft in the second position, an element movable through a ath of travel defined at one end by the atch device, a second latch device for holding the .element at the opposite end of its path of travel, meansfor releasing the second latch device, means for propelling the element toward a hammer loosely mounted dog, and a temthe second latch device, the ele- I the first latch device to engage and render inoperative said device when the ele ment is released b the second latch device, and means carrie by the shaft for engaging the element and restoring it to the other end'of its path of travel as the shaft is moved by its spring to its first position upon release of the first latch device.

'17. In a control mechanism of the type described, the combination of a rotatably mounted shaft, means tending to hold the shaft in one position, a. latch mechanism for holding the shaft in a second position, a member movable to release the latch mechanism, a second latch mechanism for holding the member against releasing movement, the

anism, and means for releasing'the second latch mechanism.-

18, In a control mechanism, the combination of a rotatably mounted shaft, means tending to hold the shaft in one position,

means for moving the shaft to a second position, a latch mechanism operable to hold the shaft in its second position, releasing means for this latch mechanism, a second latch mechanism for holding the releasing means out of action, releasing means to, its inoperative position after the release of the first latch mechanism, and. means latch mechanism.

19. In control mechanism of the type described, the combination of a rotatably mounted shaft, a spring tending to hold the means for returning the for releasing the second shaft in one position, a handle connected to the shaft by which the shaft may be moved to a second position, a latch device effective to hold the shaft in its second position, a lsprilllig actuated hammer held away fromthe ate in its first position, a second latch device for holding the hammer in the said position, and means latch device, whereby the hammer is'moved by the spring. to release the first latch detion of a rotatably mounted shaft,vmeans tending to hold the means by which the shaft may be moved to a second position, a latch device effective to hold the shaft in the said second position, means movable to release the latch device, a second latch releasing means out of operation, \temperatum-responsive means, and means operated by the temperature-responsivemeans for rendering the second when aselected temperature is reached.

ture.

EDWARD L. FONSECA device by the shaft when thelatter is for releasing the second 20. In controlmechanism, the combina-.

latch device ineffective In testimony whereof ,I aflix my signashaft in one position,

device for holding the 

